X-Posted with LJ:

We got turned down for an apartment due to Joe’s credit.

Turns out, he has a judgment from Los Angeles County for the accident we had back in 2004 when we didn’t have car insurance. Bad us, I know. But we were broke and we have since rectified that issue. $1602. We never even knew. About anything. I don’t know what to do.

I am so … frustrated. Angry. Irritated. And done. I’m not looking at any more apartments. We’ll make do where we are, even if we have to turn our dining room into our bedroom. I can’t handle getting turned down again or having to give a bazillion dollars for a deposit. I just can’t do it.

Also, it turns out, my POS insurance benefits had a $20 co-pay on ER docs that aren’t regular staff. And now, it’s on Joe’s credit. Twenty fucking dollars for SEVEN YEARS. I am so angry about this, I can’t even tell you. I sent the following email to both my HR people:

I know that we are changing insurance companies, but before we lose touch with AmeriHealth, I have a bone to pick. In November of 2004, my husband needed to go to the emergency room. We were seen, he was treated we left. Now, almost 15 months later, I find that there has been a negative credit item reported to the credit reporting agencies for a $20 co-pay for the ER doctor. I had no idea that there was such a thing in our benefits. And now, my husband has a negative mark against him on his credit report. For $20. I am taking this up with all involved - the hospital and the collection agency that represents them, but I can not believe that we were not informed of a $20 co-pay on ER visits for doctor's who are not "regular hospital staff". How in the world are we to know who staff is and who is not? Ask so that we can say, "No thank you - we need a staff member to treat us." That's hardly acceptable. Now, for whatever reason, be it miscommunication with regards to what our benefits entailed or AmeriHealth not processing items correctly or whatever, my husband has to have this negative item on all 3 credit reports for 7 years.

Asshats. All of em.

Dammit. I really loved that apartment. Oh well. I’m done. I just can’t handle this right now.

So, I release the apartment~ma into the ether.

And also, a few tears of anger and frustration.

Aimee, if you guys weren't notified of the big one, you need to look into finding a way to get it removed from your credit reports. There are probably resources available to help you with this (Hec probably knows where they are for Cali people, as it seems the sort of knowledge he'd keep in his brainpan).

I'm dead serious about this. Credit reports are being used against people for things where it shouldn't matter, like applying for jobs and stuff.

Girl Scout cookies are meant to be guarded and then scarfed in private, to the point of feeling sick and guilty beyond all reason, for eating an entire box(es - let's be honest) of cookies.

Absolutely. The people you work with are crazy.

{{{Aimee and Joe}}}

Aims, PMM is right. When our company does a new hire background check now, it includes a credit report (which I realllly don't like, but I don't get to make the rules).

It is amazing what they don't tell you . and honestly, if you had gotten bill, you would have done something about it. crazy

Credit reports are being used against people for things where it shouldn't matter, like applying for jobs and stuff.

Really?

worry worry worry

But listen to Plei, Aimée, and find out what resources can help you with this.

Oh, Aimee, that's awful and horrible and wrong. I've been blindsided by debt (though I could understand why I didn't know about ours, I don't get why no one bothered to, oh I don't know, send you a bill) and it's just full of badness.

Plei is wise.

Really?

My company does, but I've never heard of them not hiring someone a job just because of a bad credit rating, but they do look at it.

I'm pretty sure that banks have not given me jobs because of my credit rating. The justification is that someone with a bad credit rating is more of a theft risk.

Jilli, I wouldn't worry about it. You don't have bad credit, just a lack of anything much at all.